Barnum42

This might be something that is possible with a UK travel agent. I cannot imagine anyone in US complaining for any amount of time and getting any money back, in any form.

It was not possible with the travel agent. They asked and were told no way. I just went to the trouble of contacting Royal Caribbean directly. Took the better part of half an hour on the phone to a supervisor at the Guatemalan call centre, but it worked.

OK - but totally different rules in the U.K. vs the U.S. You can't cancel and get your deposit back for one thing.

Same here, you cancel that close to departure it's all gone (one of the reasons for taking out travel insurance)

I have not heard of, or been successful in getting a refund (only upgrades) after final payment

I can confirm that I, and some others on this forum have had a mixture of refund of the price difference, upgrades and part upgrade/part refund.

Exactly when was this? Are you in the U.S. or Canada? If so, certainly not within the last 2 years at least.

It was on the morning of Saturday 3rd May 2014 - so certainly was within the last two years.

I am in the UK.

I am also not the only one who was successful in getting either refunds or upgrades in relation to the price drop on this cruise. It was the encouragement of reading others on the cruise getting their refunds and upgrades that made me do the same.

Don't take "no" for an answer. It took me half an hour of calm bur forceful arguing to get a refund under similar circumstances. It boiled down to them either losing me as a repeat customer and fleecing me on this trip or giving a refund - which was in the same area as your price change - and my remaining a potential repeat customer.

With less than three weeks to go till our cruise the price dropped significantly. Travel Agent and Royal Caribbean said "no" to refunding difference. However, I kept on to the Royal Caribbean call centre and they eventually arranged a refund. I lost the free parking and teen soda package, but they accounted for about 20% of the refund.

Of course we cruise off season :D

Lucky you. The British Government have hefty fines and even prison sentences if you dare to go at a time when the travel firms can't rip you off to the max.

Just thought I'd give my 2 cents :D

 

If your daughter just wants a cup/glass bottle then it is best to purchase one before you get onboard. We got some thermos brand ones at target that have a flip top. They keep things ice cold forever (think--next day and it still has ice in it) they seal and keep things in. They are great for everything but...if you put soda in them it makes a loud 'pop' sound when you open it. **sealed and carbonation just don't mix.

 

Sigg also has some that you can get from target or online that have screw tops. They both work exceptionally well. If you want soda, then it is best to buy the package. :D just my opinion.

Thanks for you two cents. If we had Target in UK, our daughter would love to check those bottles out.

She has some favourites here, so I suspect one of those will be coming with us in the luggage.

Originally Posted by RammerJammer View Post

Darrelltwo

 

How to start an argument on an internet chat board:

1) Post opinion

2) Wait

HOW DARE YOU MAKE SUCH AN UNFOUNDED ASSUMPTION.

*Slaps krazy-dave round the shops with a sturdy glove*

Sir, I demand satisfaction.

;) Kind of like that?

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like the cup would be OK in a secure side pocket, but not rattling around in a bag.

We'll know for ourselves in just under two weeks :)

Thanks for all the replies folks. Good to know we are not the only ones on board that don't need bottomless pockets.

Are the lids secure, as in something you could put in a bag when out and about? I'm suspecting it's more a cover to prevent spills rather than for carrying it around in a bag.

Just seeing if there are any other budget cruisers on here.

You know - have an interior cabin and charge very little to the on-board account during the cruise and use the shoe leather express to go exploring in the ports.

I'll not begrudge those discussing staying in the best royal suites and luxury balcony cabins, or having the ability to pay for unlimited internet and all the excursions. Enjoy yourselves.

But are there any others in steerage, or are we the only ones dancing a jig to a merry fiddle player? ;)

When we booked our upcoming cruise, it included a "free" soda package for our teen daughter.

Since then, the price of the cruise dropped, I got the difference refunded and so the soda package was removed.

I told our daughter that we can still get the package on-board if she thinks she'll make use of it.

Turns out she is more interested in the bottle than the package - if it comes with a cup then she's not interested. If it comes with a bottle then she is.

Having Googled the subject, there appears to be a lot of different bottles/cups.

So, would she get a bottle or cup as part of the package?

Thanks!

Correct - Taxes and Fees are not tips.

You can pay your tips (gratuities as our American cousins call them) up front as part of your booking. One less thing to fuss about when you are on your holiday.

Am I the only one that thinks eating chips during a show would be rude to the people around you?

Agreement here. If someone can't go an hour without shoving something in their face, one feels there is an issue to be addressed and help required.

It's one of the reasons I rarely go to the cinema now. The noise of slurping and crunching is too distracting - even with the deafening volume from the surround sound speakers.

On the topic of bringing snacks on-board; unless you are hooked on a particular item, the ship is packed with food for you to eat of snack on at your convenience, so you need not worry about bringing any with you.

Back to the original question of whether there will be a kettle in the cabin. If you are in steerage or up to a certain level ( one below JS as informed clarea) then there is no kettle and they frown upon you bringing your own travel kettle.

Which gives you the options of using room service or taking the chance of being frowned upon and bringing your own travel kettle.

Okay, I confess I have no idea what's being talked about. What kind of kettle? For what use? Kettles I'm thinking of would need a stove or hotplate?

 

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It's an electrically powered container which brings water up to boiling point. There is a spout which permits you to transfer the hot water into a mug, cup or tea pot.

It's a very popular and standard addition to British hotel rooms. We do so enjoy a fresh cup of tea in the morning.

Hi

We did Norway from Southampton last August it was fantastic the views were amazing. Our son had just turned 15 then and also not comfortable in some loud busy environments and takes time to feel relaxed. I dragged him to a M&M, put some credit on his seapass so he could use the arcade. He felt most at home on the sports deck and was happy to be away from us for most of his time on board. He enjoyed it so much that he agreed to join us again for 14 days on AOS in July this year. I know you will all have a great time.

Cool! Great to know. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Are these things more sensitive than hotel keys? The mag stripe card type that is, not the old fashioned key ones. ;-)

 

I've carried my hotel keycard next to my cellphone with no issues, cased or not. No different than my credit card.

(

I kept mine next to my cellphone. After a couple of days the card stopped opening the cabin door. But I think hellsop's post could be closer to the mark. There is a magnet on the closing flap of my phone case, so that could have been the issue.

The equipment is simply take whatever is open. There are no reservations if that is what you are asking. Most of the classes I believe have additional charges. I don't do classes.

You can use most all of the equipment in the gym without reservations, just hop on and start using it. I believe the only equipment that they restricted to classes were the bikes for spinning.

 

Many of the classes are extra cost. There is usually one free class early every morning, but I cannot remember the type of class.

Thanks for the replies.

Can anyone help with some questions about the gym?

We are no fitness fanatics, but should we decide to have a go on a tread mill (or in my case elliptical trainer) is it a case of turn up, and if one is unoccupied to climb on and use it?

I'm aware they do some classes, like yoga and pilates. Are these included in the fare, or part of the additional revenue generation program?

I could be wrong but I believe flat screens are only in JS and up. There is a bog BUT, though, in that I think that's part of the drydock upgrade for all rooms. The TVs weren't that big even in the JS...24 or so, maybe.

 

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The ship is having work done on it in April, one of the items on the list is fitting flat screen TVs in all cabins.

Greetings! We are booked on AOS to toddle over from Southampton to Norway at the end of May.

Three in our party - myself, wife and 15 year old daughter.

Wife and I took our first cruise in October 2012 for out honeymoon, 6 nights around the Western Med on AOS sister, Navigator of the Seas.

This will be our second cruise and daughter's first.

I gather that for the most part, Adventure and Navigator are twins, but I'm sure if there are any big differences you'll be sure to tell us.

I've yet to read all the original thread, but have gone through this one and not seen mention of the Norway route. Anyone taken that trip? We go to Kristiansand, Alesund, Flam and Stavanger.

Has anyone experience of the Teenager's area/club? Daughter will have turned 15 shortly before we head off and we'd like to be able to give her a better idea of what will be available there than the few lines in the brochure or we've found on-line. She is dyspraxic (which is on the mild end of the autistic spectrum) so can be a little uncertain of large crowds and loud noises. (I know many of you parents of teens would love to have one that does not live with the music dialled permanently up to 11 ;) ). So any information about what the teen club environment is like, activities etc would be appreciated.